On-Campus Course Schedule for Spring 2022

Accountability Journalism

This course will offer a highly interactive experience in which students will learn the art of identifying reliable sources and cultivating them as sources of information as they seek the truth, one of the key tenets of ethical journalism. Students will examine the difference between fact and spin and truth and lies and how to identify which is which, especially as it applies to the political sphere. Students will use the Freedom of Information resources to try to get to the truth of what those in power are saying. They will analyze fact-checking operations of a broad range of news organizations and interview a journalist who has fact-checking as part of their portfolio to help them understand what skills are important. They will acquire skills to do their own fact-checking, both during live simulations and after-the-fact responses, and to identify and point out misinformation that is spreading across social media platforms. Clear, concise and accurate writing and reporting will be emphasized throughout the course. This class will build on the skills that students acquired during the Journalism Ethics, Reporting and Newswriting and Digital Essentials courses, as well as Journalism electives like Political Reporting and Investigative Reporting.

Audio Storytelling

Audio storytelling is an art form that when mastered is one of the most effective methods of communicating to a mass audience. In the evolving world of multimedia presentations, the principles of storytelling through compelling characters and natural sound have remained unchanged - from human-interest stories and profiles to audio postcards and podcasts. It’s a craft mastered by journalists and communicators in public radio for decades. Content generators must consider audio production as part of their communication arsenal, as it may – at times – be a fairly inexpensive method of delivering messages to groups of people. In this course, journalists and communication specialists will learn the fundamental principles of how to put together audio pieces that tells an interesting story by using a strong narrative and recorded sounds. Students will develop interviewing skills, field recording techniques and the use of multi-track audio production software. They will learn the different stages of putting together sound-rich audio stories and how to publish their work on multimedia outlets.

Note: JO Students must have the prerequisites of MPJO 501 Reporting and News Writing and MPJO 508 Photo and video storytelling to enroll. This course is cross-listed with MPPR 723.

Dig. Analytics & Measurement

This course examines the processes for gathering, interpreting, and presenting compelling digital data. Students will learn to use digital public opinion polling, specialized reports, social media platforms, digital analysis tools, and news aggregators to explain market research, audience trends, and social conversations. Students will also create data visualization tools to streamline data presentation into succinct, engaging formats.

Note: This course is cross-listed with MPPR-506 and MPMC-806. This course is housed in the Integrated Marketing and Communications program. Students must have completed MPJO-501 Reporting and News Writing, MPJO 500 Ethics, MPJO 508 Photo and Video Storytelling, and MPJO 505 Digital Essentials to take this course.

Digital Essentials for Journalists

This course examines the essential digital skills needed in the field of journalism today. We will study the current media landscape to help students understand how digital skills and sensibilities are integrated with reporting, content creation, information dissemination and audience building efforts at news organizations of all sizes. The course involves a survey of key issues affecting the day-to-day work of modern journalists, as well as an examination of emerging technologies, platforms and ideas. Case studies, readings, media surveillance and guest lectures will help students learn the core skills needed to broaden their career opportunities; to add to their fundamental reporting background; and to think entrepreneurially about how to shape journalism. The final project will consist of a semester-long, team-created digital project that implements the full range of skills covered in the course. Students will: • learn practical, effective and applicable digital skills • create and distribute original content • investigate how individuals build traditional or unique journalism careers • develop and debate ideas using a collaborative, interactive team approach • display learning in class discussions, writing assignments and the final project This course is required for all MPS Journalism students. In order to satisfy graduation requirements, students must earn a B (3.00) or higher. Any student who fails to do so must repeat the course.

Note: Foundation course required for the Journalism program. This course requires a 'B' or better grade.

Journalism Internship II

Internships are a great way for students to gain real-world experiences and network with professionals in the field. Many employers require at least some internship experience to appear on a student’s resume. Taking on an internship while in the MPS Journalism program can help students integrate and enhance the skills they are learning in the classroom with professional, hands-on experiences. Students must participate in the internship according to the guidelines furnished by the employer, and they will be required to submit a weekly 500 word writing assignment reflecting on the successes and challenges of the internship. At the end of each semester, the student’s supervisor must complete an evaluation of the student’s performance, and submit it directly to the MPS Journalism program. ** Students must receive approval from the MPS Journalism program prior to enrolling in the Internship class. Note: Extensive, documented academic activity and experiential learning outside of classroom (min. 6-8 hours per week) is required.

Note: Registration requires department approval. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-863-01 and MPMC 773-01. Prerequisite for this course is MPJO 860 internship one class.

MPS Journalism Capstone

Note: Students must have completed MPJO 500 Ethics, MPJO 501 Reporting, and News Writing, MPJO 505 Digital Essentials, and MPJO 508 Photo and Video Storytelling. This course must be taken in the student's final semester.

MPS Journalism Internship

Internships are a great way for students to gain real-world experiences and network with professionals in the field. Many employers require at least some internship experience to appear on a student’s resume. Taking on an internship while in the MPS Journalism program can help students integrate and enhance the skills they are learning in the classroom with professional, hands-on experiences. Students must participate in the internship according to the guidelines furnished by the employer, and they will be required to submit a weekly 500 word writing assignment reflecting on the successes and challenges of the internship. At the end of each semester, the student’s supervisor must complete an evaluation of the student’s performance, and submit it directly to the MPS Journalism program. ** Students must receive approval from the MPS Journalism program prior to enrolling in the Internship class.

Note: Requires approval of the MPS Journalism program. This course is cross-listed with MPPR-863-01 and MPMC 773-01.

Multimedia Storytelling

Note: This course requires two pre-requisites classes MPJO-501 Reporting and News Writing and MPJO 508 Photo and Video Storytelling, CCT students must have taken MPJO 508 prior to enrolling.

Nat Security&Diplomatic; Report

Note: Rarely have the stakes been higher for journalists covering core issues of national security and diplomacy. At a moment when the American media’s credibility is under attack as never before, and the government attempts to stretch its already far-reaching powers toward legal limits, effective, insightful, and transparent reporting is essential. This class will introduce students to the fundamentals of covering matters of national security, including foreign policy, law enforcement, military issues, and reporting from conflict zones overseas. The class will provide students an overview of agencies and organizations key to national security and diplomatic coverage, guidelines for beat reporting and sourcing, and a look at issues related to press freedom.

Personal Branding (Cross-listed with MPPR 891)

ambiguous ingredients in a career strategy. This course will arm students with the resources to evaluate, improve, and employ personal branding strategies for themselves and for key members of their organizational team. The course will discuss personal branding strategies in both digital and event contexts – including social media platforms, presentations, and networking opportunities.

Note: Also listed as MPPR 891-01 and MPMC 891-01. Students must have completed MPJO-501 Reporting and News Writing, MPJO 500 Ethics, MPJO 508 Photo and Video, MPJO 505 Digital Essentials.

Photo and Video Storytelling

Foundation requirement for Journalism majors. This course requires a grade of "B" or better to pass. Additional 150 minute distance learning component required Course Description: This course is designed to give the student the ability to communicate in the Video Age--whether for television or the web. We call it storytelling to emphasize the communication of ideas, rather than simply the technical knowledge of shooting and editing video. Students will begin by learning how shots work together, how to write compelling scripts, and how to use audio for best effect. Then students will work with professional camera equipment to develop shooting, lighting, and audio skills. The class will also have hands-on instruction in editing techniques using Final Cut Pro. By the end of the course, students should be comfortable in the video storytelling process--from the flash of an idea, to the finished product on the screen, in the field, and in the studio. Students who entered the MPS Journalism program in Summer 2010 and thereafter must complete this class and receive a grade of solid "B" (3.00) or higher in order to graduate.

Note: This is a JO foundation class.

Reporting and News Writing

Journalism begins with basic reporting. This class focuses on the basics of beat reporting, one of the building blocks of any newsroom and journalism career. The class will also take a closer look at the reporting and writing process, from finding an idea to researching it, pitching it and executing it into a publishable article. Students will strive to become experts on the neighborhood they cover through old-school shoe leather reporting and will keep abreast of spot news while learning how to identify and pursue longer-form enterprise stories. The class will also have a Twitter handle and Facebook page — DChoods — where students will publish routinely and practice writing for social media and cultivating sources and finding story ideas using these new tools. The updates on Twitter and Facebook will not just be news stories, but also tidbits collected during visits to the neighborhood, which should be visited weekly at minimum. This is a core course of the MPS Journalism program, and students must earn a “B” (83) or higher to pass the course. Please see the Graduate Student Handbook for more details.

Note: Foundation requirement for the Journalism Program. This course requires a grade of "B" or better. This course serves as a pre-requisite for many elective courses.

Sourcing & Interview Tech.

Journalists find sources ask questions for a living. But how do you network to find the people you need for a story? How do you figure out what questions to ask and how to pose them? How do you stay in control of the conversation? This class will explore both how to find sources and then how to interview them effectively. It will look at the art and the science of the interview, from tactics for securing your subjects' cooperation to strategies for getting the information you need from them. We will engage in hands-on exercises to hone these skills, hear tips from guest speakers and analyze interviews to figure out what works and what doesn’t.

Note: Students must have completed MPJO 500 Ethics and MPJO 501 Reporting and News Writing. Requires 150 minutes of distance learning or one additional class meeting outside of the standard meeting dates.

Speech Writing

Visual Communications

Note: In today’s digital world, it has become necessary for communicators to use visual tools to communicate ideas effectively. In this course, students learn how to research, apply and critique typography, color strategies, digital imaging, design principles, and visual trends. Students should have a working knowledge of Adobe Creative Suites and other relevant computer programs prior to taking this course. Students must have completed MPJO-501 Reporting and News Writing, MPJO 500 Ethics, MPJO 508 Photo and Video, MPJO 505 Digital Essentials. This course is cross-listed with MPDC 520-101 and MPMC 720-101. The prerequisites for this course are MPJO 500 Ethics, MPJO 501 Reporting and News Writing, MPJO 505 Digital Essentials and MPJO 508 Photo and Video Storytelling.